Unable to make purchases in Pokémon GO

When attempting to purchase Pokécoins in Pokémon Go app, I receive the following error message: “something went wrong. Please try again later.” I have rest my phone, ensured no restrictions are enabled, changed my Pokémon Go password, and turned on/off my WiFi. Still the error message persists.

iPhone 11 Pro Max, iOS 13

Posted on Apr 20, 2020 4:08 PM

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Posted on Aug 7, 2020 5:42 PM

OMG OMG I turned off Apple Cash and it worked - You were right!!! Except in my case, Apple Pay is still on, but Apple Cash is off.


First, I removed my bank account from Apple Cash, and removed PayPal from the payment methods for iTunes, and only left the Apple Credit card in the wallet and iTunes, and then I shut off Apple Cash.


Then I tried to make a purchase in the PoGo shop and it worked!!


I think the bank account definitely has something to do with it, because today my bank literally SHUT OFF my debit card without even asking me if the $1.00 purchase for the PoGo ticket was fraud. They just shut it off. And I got a push notification on my phone that the debit card was no longer available for making purchases. And the debit card was tied to Apple Cash. OMG this Apple payment system is SO MESSED UP.


BUT IT WORKED!!!

223 replies

Jul 16, 2020 4:25 AM in response to Community User

Glad to hear this is at least helping others find their missing purchases, and interesting that the Go Fest ticket seems to be the common denominator - not sure if it’s bad programming on Niantic’s part or the way Apple handles billing/shipping, or a combination of both. I’m still going back and forth with Niantic support - they seem very unwilling to provide any information that would help me prove my point or even look into this issue earnestly. I usually wait 24 hours just to be told some stock response. I ended up disputing those charges through my bank and got my money back but that of course locked down my Apple ID so I had to contact Apple support to square that away. I’ll keep trying to get Niantic Support on the same page, and I would say it’s a good idea if others do the same, but in the end I have over $100 of in-game coins for free so...

Jul 17, 2020 6:09 PM in response to smcguire94

A couple small updates.


1) When I pressed Niantic support about the fact that all of their recorded transactions mirrored mine except for the dates, the rep mentioned that receipt dates don't always match the purchase dates. I asked then how the receipts would be dated for more than a week before they claim the purchases happened. Haven't heard back, but I'll stay on them.


2) My Apple ID was disabled again today - twice in one week. I have no idea why, either. When I contacted Apple support, the rep just said it was related to the charges on my account I disputed. They stuck by that answer, despite the fact I had to get my account reactivated just 4 days ago for the same reason.


3) I did some digging, and it seems like the way that Apple/iTunes provides information to you about your purchases on your receipt does not include the same information they provide to merchants (in this thread https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/68487). For security reasons, merchants are provided, from what I've gathered, an encrypted version of your purchase details. While this is good for a consumer security/privacy perspective, it also means it is very difficult for iTunes receipts to be matched with a specific transaction on the merchant's end. So, that's somewhat dissuaded me but I'm going to keep on Niantic Support and will probably reach out to Apple Support again and tell them about the situation and see if there is any info I could provide from my receipts that might help Niantic resolve the issue. I may also try to find some way to file a complain with BBB - it seems reckless for Apple to provide their users with a purchase receipt that is virtually useless when it comes to verifying and tracing transactions.


I'll keep updating on anything I find out. Again, even though I haven't had much luck, I feel like if these types of complaints reach both Niantic and Apple support more often, it would (hopefully) encourage one or both of them to take this issue a bit more seriously.

Aug 6, 2020 12:59 AM in response to EricBBBBBBB

Someone had mentioned they got charged twice for an event, started getting the error, and then the next event the ticket was already in their item bag. I purchased Gastly on 4 accounts all on my Apple ID. I was charged 5 times. I figured Magikarp event would be a good opportunity to test this out and sure enough my daughter already has the event ticket and a huge coin balance, which must be where all my coins that I haven’t received have landed. I want those coins on my account because she barely plays. I can now purchase coins again in my own account.

Aug 6, 2020 10:06 AM in response to donel112

It actually started working for me again (after about 1 month of this same problem) but I’m not Not sure what exactly I may have done to make it do so. I think what may have done the trick was I opened a new checking account (easily done through my banks app) and made that account my primary form of payment on this device and deleted my original one. I added my original form of payment back to the device then deleted the newly created one that is linked to the new checking account. Ever since then I’ve had no issues. I hope this can help save you and others a ton of frustration

Aug 14, 2020 8:37 AM in response to FinkTwin

the issue is definitely with Niantic. Apple should be mediating the situation but as they are declining to refund most of us, they seem to have decided they aren’t interested in trying to help the users. You’d think Niantic recommending users switch from iOS to Android would convince Apple to take action, but they don’t seem to care. This is some kind of programming bug where niantic isn’t connecting purchases between your Apple ID and your Pokémon Go account. I think for many it results from having 2 Pokémon go accounts attached to one Apple ID (either parent / child, or users with 2 accounts). Apple is refusing to refund the money because they are fulfilling their obligation as the banker, but niantic isn’t applying the payment to your Go Account.


[Edited by Moderator]

Jun 5, 2020 12:14 PM in response to donel112

Im having this same problem. Started after I tried to buy the community day research. I clicked buy, it didnt look like it went through so I clicked it again. Went through but now I cant buy anything else from the store. Niantic support sucks, impossible to get a hold of them. Issue has persisted for several days now.


I tried rebooting, logging out/in, bought an itunes gift card, nothing is working.

Jun 6, 2020 6:01 AM in response to brb549

yes!! We are struggling with this as well! We both have an Apple iPhone, separate Pokémon accounts but the same Apple ID. Ever since we tried to purchase from the special research, we have issues with the store. At one point I thought it was solved but apparently not as neither my husband nor myself can buy anything from the Pokémon Go store right now. We both need to use the pokecoins to upgrade storage and item bags but all we get is this terrible spinning wheel that never stops so we just close out the app. It’s so frustrating! This should not be an issue. And Niantic isn’t exactly easy to get a hold of. I have used their robot chat to try to find a solution but nothing. So I am gonna start leaving reviews and become the squeaky wheel that gets the oil. It’s a relief to know we aren’t the only ones dealing with this but super frustrating nonetheless.

Jul 6, 2020 4:43 PM in response to donel112

Just came to say I've been having the same issue since last Monday. I had the error first show up trying to buy the Go Fest ticket. I eventually got the ticket but was charged twice, which I had to eventually dispute with my bank. But right after buying the Go Fest ticket is when I was no longer able to buy coins, so I wonder if that maybe is causing the issue. Niantic and Apple Support were useless and frankly disappointing - Apple Support especially since I was basically told that no matter what evidence I provided to them (including Niantic admitting fault) they wouldn't reconsider a refund. I debated filing a complaint with BBB but ended up starting a dispute process with my bank.

Jul 21, 2020 7:15 PM in response to XxCL0UDxX1990

Samsung users are having the same problem. I am not sure if it’s happening at the same rate. I am having the exact same problem. I can make purchases on my kid’s iphone Using her Apple ID and my pogo account, but I can’t make purchases under my own Apple ID. And her ID is tied to mine through family sharing !!! So I guess I’ll have to use an old phone and make a new Apple ID just for Go Fest.

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Unable to make purchases in Pokémon GO

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